Park promises aren't kept: Letters

When the public was asked in the 1980s to vote for a millage to service bonds for a proposed Aquarium, citizens attending the Audubon Institute's public meetings were told how Aquarium revenue would fund the maintenance of a riverfront park.

The taxes continue, but the park maintenance? Walking through Woldenberg Park for Navy Week, sidewalks were in disrepair and Moonwalk planters in ruin. Trash was overflowing onto the ground from trash bins. With Navy Week expected to draw crowds, why did Audubon not schedule someone to empty them?

Interestingly, the city is now working to open more riverfront parks, this time in Marigny and Bywater. Desirable goals certainly, but the city has never publicly revealed a funding source.

There have been hints of revenue to be generated from outdoor concerts and rentals -- a terrible idea so close to residential areas. We are too close to the opening date for this much to be in secrecy or unsettled. And, I guess the lesson of Woldenberg is also that promises given may need to be considered with skepticism.